Spring-circle for stiff-shaft wagons



(NoModeL) E. J. PARKER.

SPRING CIRCLE FOR STIPP SHAFT WAGONS.

Patented May 21 1895.

ITp/Erfm 1s Ptrtns co.. PNOTO-LITNIL. wasnma UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

EUGENE J. PARKER, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING-CIRCLE FOR ST|FF-SHAFT WAGONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,640, dated May 21,1895.

Application filed April 6, 1895. Serial No. 544,697. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

BeitknownthatLEUGENE J.PARKER,acitizen of the United States, residing atWVorcester, in the county of lVorcester and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and useful Spring-Circle for Stiff-Shaft WVagons, ofwhich the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification sulficiently full, clear, and exact to enable personsskilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and usethe same.

The object of my present invention is to provide a simple, efficient anddesirable means for supporting or imparting elevating pressure to theshafts, in that class of wagons in which the shafts are stilt or rigidlysecured in the axle; as for instance such wagons as are generallyemployed for market and grocery delivery, or wagons for light expressand carrying purposes; said means being adapted for affording a yieldingsupport and relieving the horse from the weight of the shafts. Theseobjects I attain by the spring-circle constructed and combined withthewagon as illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows a sideView of my invention as applied to a wagon. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe spring-circle and front axle of a wagon. Fig. 3 shows a detachedperspective view of my spring-circle and the attachingbolt, and Fig. 4is a side view of the bearing device upon the reach-bar.

My spring-circle consists of a steel rod, about five-eighths of an inchin diameter, more or less; the central portion of which is shaped to theform of a semicircle 2, at the respective ends of which are formed aseries of circular helical coils 3 each terminating in a dependentstraight portion or attaching end 4; the semicircle 2 beingapproximately horizontal or with slight upward inclination, while thecoils 3stand in vertical planes, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so as togive expanding resilience between the ends 4 and the semicircle 2. Thisdevice is arranged upon the rear side of the front axleAof the wagonwith the attaching ends4 resting against the side of the axle at equaldistance right and left from the swing center or pintle a, and isrigidly fixed thereto by suitable fastenings or clamp-bolts 5 havingeyes or hooked ends 6 that embrace the ends 4. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) Saidbolts pass through the axle with nuts 7 upon their opposite ends fortightening and clamping the attaching ends 4 rigidly and firmly againstthe axle. These ends 4 can rest directly against the axle, orhavebearing plates between the ends and axle face if desired; leaving thecoils 3 free for affording upward and downward fiexure to the semicircle2, which latter rests against and bears upward on the under side of thereach-bar B. A chafe-iron or preferablya roller 9 is arranged upon thereach-bar B as a bearing for the circle 2, as indicated in Figs.

1 and 4. -The roller is best journaled in a plate 10 that may beattached to the reach by a clip 11 or'in other suitable manner. Thesemicircle 2 is disposed concentric with the pintle a so as to swingaround laterally with the swing of the axle, while maintaining itsbearing in proper relation against the under side of the roller orreach-bar at all positions in the turning of the wagon.

The spring-tension of the circle and its coils 3, acting through thefixed ends 4 against the axle, and its circle 2 against the reach, issuch as to give a yielding upward tendency and support to the shaftsD,which are rigidly fixed in the axle A; the spring-circle, in combinationwith the reach and axle, serving to normally sustain the weight of theshafts and keep them elevated, thus relieving the horse from the burdenthereof while affording sufiicient yielding action, as may be desired,for raising and lowering the shafts in the various -uses of the wagon.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The within described spring-circle for wagons, consisting of aresilient rod bent to form the semicircle 2, having the vertical coils 3at its respective ends, said coils terminating with the attaching endsor straight portions 4, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the wagon-axle, the shafts rigidly securedtherein, and the wagon reach, of the spring-circle consisting of theresilient rod formed with a semicircle disposed concentric to theaxle-pintle and sustained against the reach, the respective ends of saidsemicircle provided with vertically disposed spring coils having theirtermi- I rigidly securing said ends to the axle, the Io nal extremitiesrigidly attached to the axle, Wagon reach, and the roller attached tosaid substantially as and for the purpose set forth. reach as abearingfor said semicircle, all suh- 3. The combination with the Wagon-axlestantially as set forth. 5 and shafts, of the spring-rod bent to formthe Witness my hand this 2d day of April, 1895.

semicircle with integral spiral coils at its re- EUGENE J. PARKER.spective ends, said coils terminating with de- \Vitnesses: pendingportions or attaching ends that sup- CHAS. I-I. BURLEIGH,

port said circle, the clamp-bolts or means for 1 ELLA P. BLENUS.

